Infaunal polychaete communities from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Filchner Trough region (Weddell Sea)

Infaunal polychaete communities from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Filchner Trough region (Weddell Sea) | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Short Report Infaunal polychaete communities from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Filchner Trough region (Weddell Sea) Friederike Weith, Andreas Bick, Kerstin Jerosch, Hendrik Pehlke, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6681155/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Polychaetes are a dominant and functionally diverse infaunal group of marine soft-bottom ecosystems. Yet their biodiversity and community composition remain poorly understood in the Weddell Sea (WS). We investigated the composition of polychaete communities (taxonomic and functional identity) in two key regions of the WS (Antarctic Peninsula and Filchner Trough region). Sediment cores collected during three RV Polarstern expeditions (PS81, 96, 118), revealed 1,605 polychaete individuals from 34 families. We assigned them into 14 functional groups, based on their feeding, motility and movement type. Polychaete abundances were highest in the northwestern WS and lowest at the deeper Filchner Trough sites, while the number of taxa was similar in all regions. Cluster analyses distinguished six taxonomic and five functional community types, indicating heterogeneous community structures. Paraonidae and Cirratulidae were the dominant families. Motile borrowing subsurface deposit feeders prevailed functionally across sites. Regional differences were e.g., that Hesionidae, Opheliidae and Maldanidae were more abundant around the Antarctic Peninsula, Syllidae, Glyceridae and Lumbrineridae in the Filchner Trough region. Our results highlight the spatial variation of polychaete communities and emphasize the need to integrate taxonomic and functional perspectives to comprehensively assess the different facets of biodiversity and to support conservation efforts for vulnerable WS regions. benthos biodiversity abundance community composition functional diversity traits Southern Ocean Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Introduction Distinctive and extreme environmental conditions are among the reasons for the remarkable biodiversity on the seafloor of the Southern Ocean (SO). This unique Antarctic benthic diversity is under increasing pressure from the effects of climate change, particularly in the extended Weddell Sea (WS), including the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) (Brasier et al. 2021 , Griffiths et al. 2024 ). Understanding benthic community composition and distribution patterns in such climate-sensitive regions is crucial for developing conservation strategies and predicting future biodiversity changes. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the composition and distribution of epifauna communities in shallow coastal and shelf regions of the SO (Weddell Sea: Gutt et al. 2016 ; Pineda-Metz et al. 2019 ; East Antarctic: Post et al. 2011 ; Cummings et al. 2018 ; Jansen et al. 2018a , b ), but knowledge of smaller and more abundant WS-shelf infauna remains limited, with few exceptions (e.g., Hilbig et al. 2006 ; Ellingsen et al. 2007 ; Veit-Köhler et al. 2018 ; Säring et al. 2022 ). Polychaetes represent a speciose and numerically dominant macroinfauna taxon in the WS, contributing up to 50% of total macrobenthic abundance and occurring in habitats where other macroinfauna taxa are scarce (Gerdes et al. 1992 ; Piepenburg et al. 2002 ; Säring et al. 2022 ). They show a high functional diversity with a variety of feeding types (e.g., filter and deposit feeders) including sedentary, mobile and tube-building sessile taxa (Fauchald and Jumars 1979 ; Jumars et al. 2015 ; PolytraitsTeam 2025 ). This broad array of functional traits enables polychaetes to adapt to a wide spectrum of different habitats and environmental conditions (Schüller and Ebbe 2014 ; Jumars et al. 2015 ). Nevertheless, the biodiversity and compositional patterns of polychaete assemblages in the extended WS region are still poorly understood (e.g., Schüller et al. 2009 ). Grouping organisms by their functional traits opens possibilities to assess biodiversity in different aspects, including community structure, ecosystem function and responses to environmental change (Sunday et al. 2015 ). Previous studies on epifauna functional traits in the SO have identified motility and feeding strategies as main factors shaping communities of mainly sessile suspension feeders and mobile deposit feeders (Gutt et al. 2016 ; Jansen et al. 2018b ). For WS infauna communities (e.g., polychaetes), an integrated analysis of taxonomic and functional information has not yet been applied. We aim to investigate how infaunal polychaete communities are structured, in terms of taxonomic (higher taxon level: family) and functional groups (feeding, motility, movement type) across two key regions of the WS (extended geographic range: Antarctic Peninsula and Filchner Trough). Our results provide insights into polychaete community structure and infaunal biodiversity in this climate-sensitive region. Material and Methods Study area and sampling procedure during the expeditions Sediment samples for polychaete community analysis from 16 stations (st.) were collected during three expeditions with RV Polarstern : PS81, PS96, PS118 (austral summer seasons 2013, 2016, 2019) sailing to the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula (Drake Passage, Bransfield Strait, northwestern WS) and the Filchner Trough region in the southeastern WS (Fig. 1, 2; Table 1; Gutt 2013; Schröder 2016; Dorschel 2019). Water depth at the sampled stations ranged from 350 to 755 m, bottom temperature from -1.92 to 0.65 °C and bottom salinity from 34.49 to 34.67 (Schröder et al. 2013, 2016, Janout et al. 2019). Geographic regions are abbreviated using their initials: Antarctic Peninsula (AP) including DP = Drake Passage (st. 235, 241/244), BS = Bransfield Strait (st. 215/217, 225), NW-WS = northwestern Weddell Sea (st. 6, 8, 38, 120, 163, 115/190); Filchner Trough region = FT (st. 17, 26, 37, 48, 61, 72). Where possible, representative sampling locations of a station were determined based on Ocean Floor Observation System surveys and bathymetry. At each station, the multicorer (MUC) was deployed 1–5 times, providing a minimum of 3 fauna core replicates per station (Table 1). Only during PS 81, macrofauna samples were collected with a MUC10 or by subsampling a giant box corer (GKG). In all cases, the core liners had an internal diameter of 94 mm and a surface area of 69.4 cm 2 (Säring et al. 2021a, Säring et al 2021b, Weith et al. 2024). Polychaete sample processing and identification Faunal samples (Table 1) were processed as described by Säring et al. (2022). Fixed macrofauna samples were sieved with 32µm-filtered tap water over a 500-µm sieve. Polychaetes (> 500 µm) were sorted using Leica Mz 12.5 and Carl Zeiss Stemi 2000 stereomicroscopes, and identified to family level using identification keys, e.g., Hartman (1964; 1976); Fauchald and Jumars (1979); Pettibone (1982); Hartman (1996); Hartmann-Schröder (1996); Hayward and Ryland (2017). Polychaete families were assigned to functional groups based on traits within categories (listed in Box 1). Categories were selected given their potential influence on ecosystem functions, as well as the assumption that differences in traits are related to the habitat (Hewitt et al. 2008). Traits assignments were based on visual inspection of specimen habitus and according to relevant (e.g., taxonomic) literature. If more than one trait was documented for a taxon in the literature, we decided after the visual inspection. We did not find differences in traits within the families in our samples. For detailed information see Table SI1. We counted the total number of individuals per identified taxon from the top to the bottom of each sediment core (mean depth of cores analyzed: 23 cm). Multivariate analyses of the community composition We used individual counts for each (a) taxonomic (family level) or (b) functional group to calculate abundances as individuals per 100 cm 2 for the analyses; average per station was used for descriptive plots and calculating biodiversity indices (taxon/functional group richness S , Shannon-Wiener index H’ , evenness J’ , Simpson index λ ). Bray-Curtis similarity was applied as resemblance measure for untransformed polychaete community data for all matrices. Similarities between communities (taxonomic or functional groups) were visualized using non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS). Hierarchical cluster analysis (using average-group linking, similarity 50%) was applied to differentiate (a) taxonomic and (b) functional communities and define group sites with similar community compositions. We used SIMPER analysis to determine the mean similarity of communities within clusters, to calculate the dissimilarity between clusters, and to identify which (a) taxonomic or (b) functional groups contribute most to them. All multivariate analyses were performed in PRIMER v7 (Clarke et al. 2014). Maps were created with QGIS (QGIS.org 2025) using Quantarctica for basemaps (Matsuoka et al. 2018). Results Recorded taxa and functional groups in the Weddell Sea In total, 1,605 polychaetes belonging to 34 families were recorded, data available from PANGAEA: Weith et al. (2024). Across samples ( N = 58) Paraonidae were the dominant family with an average abundance of 9.1 ind. per 100 cm 2 (SD ± 12.1), followed by Cirratulidae (8.4 ind. 100 cm − 2 ± 13.7), Hesionidae (5.2 ind. 100 cm − 2 ± 10.8), Opheliidae (3.9 ind. 100 cm − 2 ± 8) and Maldanidae (2.4 ind. 100 cm − 2 ± 3.4). Other polychaete families found in descending order of abundance are: Lumbrineridae, Spionidae, Syllidae, Ampharetidae, Onuphidae, Glyceridae, Dorvilleidae, Sternaspidae, Sabellidae, Scalibregmatidae, Nephtyidae, Sphaerodoridae, Orbiniidae, Polynoidae, Terebellidae, Phyllodocidae, Flabelligeridae, Amphinomidae, Acrocirridae, Oweniidae, Capitellidae, Trichobranchidae, Nereididae, Chaetopteridae, Pisionidae, Pilargidae, Oenonidae, Nerillidae, and Pectinariidae. Families were assigned into 14 functional groups (based on feeding, motility and movement type, Table SI1, Box 1). The dominant functional group over all samples was motile borrowing subsurface deposit feeding SbMB (14.6 ind. 100 cm − 2 ), followed by motile burrowing surface deposit feeding SMB (8.7 ind. 100 cm − 2 ), crawling motile predators PMC (6.1 ind. 100 cm − 2 ), burrowing discretely motile subsurface deposit feeding (SbDB) and crawling motile omnivore OMC (both 2.4 ind. 100 cm − 2 ). Other functional groups are listed in descending order of average abundace: PMB, SDB, SDSe, ODC, PDB, FNSe, SbDC, SbMC, and SMC. The functional groups SbMB and PMC included the highest number of families (5, SbMB: Paraonidae, Opheliidae, Orbiniidae, Sternaspidae, Scalibregmatidae; PMC: Hesionidae, Nephtyidae, Phyllodocidae, Polynoidae, Oenonidae). Regional polychaete community composition in the Weddell Sea The highest polychaete abundances occurred in the NW-WS, highest at st. 8 (160.6 ind. 100 cm − 2 ), followed by st. 38 and 190 (125.4 & 86.5 ind. 100 cm − 2 , resp.). The lowest abundances were observed for the deepest (608.2–755.1 m) sampling sites located in the FT region (st. 17 & 72 both 11.5 ind. 100 cm − 2 ; Fig. 1 ). The highest taxonomic richness was recorded at st. 37 in the FT region followed by the DP sites, the lowest at st. 6 and 120 in the NW-WS (Table SI2). Shannon-Wiener diversity was lower in the NW-WS than in all other regions (Table SI2). Cirratulidae were dominant at the southern sampling sites in the NW-WS (st. 6 & 8 with 16 & 43.1 ind. 100 cm − 2 , resp.), whereas Paraonidae showed an opposite pattern with higher abundances at northern sites (st. 120, 38 and 190: 18.7, 39.1 and 32.2 ind. 100 cm − 2 , resp.; Fig. 1 ). In the BS, Ampharetidae showed the highest abundances across all sampling sites (st. 217 & 225: 4.8 & 3.4 ind. 100 cm − 2 , resp.). Sternaspidae and Onuphidae were dominant at the BS st. 225 (4.8 & 3.8 ind. 100 cm − 2 , resp.) and the DP st. 235 (4.3 & 3.8 ind. 100 cm − 2 , resp.) but were scarce in the NW-WS and not observed in the FT region. Sabellidae were only found in the DP, BS and at some sampling sites in the FT region (st. 37, 17, 26), but were not detected in the NW-WS. The cluster analysis of the polychaete communities based on taxonomic groups distingushed six clusters ( Tax A– Tax F) at a similarity of 50% (Fig. 3 a, SI1). In the SIMPER analysis, within-group similarity ranged from 50.1–63.3%, whereas the between-group dissimilarity ranged from 53.2–87.9% (Table SI3). No within-group similarity was calculated for Tax B (st. 163) which consisted of a single site. In Tax A (st. 6, 120) Paraonidae, Opheliidae and Hesionidae contributed over 90% to the within-group similarity. The remaining clusters were influenced by more polychaete families. The abundance of Onuphidae in Tax F (st. 217, 225, 235, 241) contributed over 21% to the between-group dissimilarity with other clusters, except for Tax F & Tax C and Tax F & Tax B (contribution less than 5%). The functional polychaete community in the NW-WS was dominated by subsurface deposit feeders (SbMB), except for st. 163, where PMC was most abundant. SMB increased in abundance from north to south in NW-WS and was most dominant at st. 6 (Fig. 2 ). The lowest numbers of functional groups overall were observed at st. 120 (6 groups) in the NW-WS. Contrarily, the DP showed a high functional diversity (235: 12, 241: 11 functional groups; Table SI4) dominated by SbMB and surface deposit feeders (SMB, SDSe, SDB). St. 241 revealed the highest abundance of FNSe (3.5 ind. 100 cm − 2 ) across all sites. Both BS and DP showed low proportions of "predators" and a higher proportion of "sessile" forms. St. 225 (BS) and 235 (DP) showed similarities in their functional community composition: SbMB being the dominant group followed by ODC and SMB. SDSe were most abundant at st. 217 (5.3 ind. 100 cm − 2 ), but in the NW-WS they were only found at st. 163. Deeper sites in the FT (st. 17 & 72) showed low numbers of functional groups (Table SI4) and were dominated by deposit feeders (e.g., SDB, SbMB, SMB and SDSe). In contrast, at st. 37 and 26 predators (PMC, PMB, PDB) made up one third of the functional groups within the community (Fig. 2 ). The cluster analysis of the polychaete communities based on functional groups distinguished five clusters ( Func A– Func E) at a similarity of 50% (Fig. 3 b, SI2). St. 241 (DP) and sites in the FT region (st. 26, 37, 48, 61) formed one community type ( Func E). SIMPER analysis showed a within-group similarity from 57.1–77.3% and a between-group dissimilarity from 52.3–83% (Table SI5). Func A (st. 6) consisted of a single site and no within-group similarity was calculated. SbMB contributed most to the within-group similarity with over 24% across all clusters. St. 225 and 235 showed the overall highest similarity of the functional community composition and formed Func D together with st. 217. In Func D (st. 217, 225, 235), SDSe contributed 23.3% to within-group similarity and also influenced between-group dissimilarity. Discussion Taxonomic versus functional biodiversity of polychaetes We could demonstrate different patterns in community types distinguished based on taxonomic vs. functional classification. While this classification is valid for our dataset, it may not be generalizable to other regions. Many of the six taxonomic and five functional community types were present in several geographic regions (Fig. 1 , 2 ). High abundances of Paraonidae and Cirratulidae were characteristic elements of communities across the WS. Regional patterns included Hesionidae, Opheliidae, and Maldanidae in the AP region, whereas Syllidae, Glyceridae, Lumbrineridae, Spionidae, and Ampharetidae were common in the FT region. These patterns are only partially consistent with previous results from Hilbig et al. ( 2006 ), where cirratulids and maldanids (identified to genus or species) dominated around the AP. In contrast for the southeastern WS, amphinomids and cirratulid species dominated deeper regions (> 700 m), whereas spionid and syllid species in shallower (< 300 m) and further north sites (Hilbig et al. 2006 ), compared to our FT sites (400–700 m). Differences in time, sampling depths and local conditions may be responsible for the detected discrepancies. Notably, the taxonomic polychaete community composition at family level in the FT region in our study resembled those of the West AP shelf with similar depths (550–610 m) described by Glover et al. ( 2008 ), with high abundances of Paraonidae, Spionidae and Syllidae. Local environmental conditions (e.g., lower temperatures) and biogeographical processes may cause such similarities of taxonomic community compositions across different regions. The functional polychaete assemblages of soft sediments were mostly dominated by mobile burrowing subsurface deposit feeders, which matches previous findings for macrofauna communities in the SO (Gutt 2007 ). Interestingly, in our study, the classification of polychaete communities into taxonomic and functional types was consistent for the FT region but not for the AP region (Fig. 1 , 2 ). One hypothesis could be that in the FT region particularly those specialized taxa that exhibit specific functional traits and adaptations to their respective habitat conditions (e.g., high or constant sea-ice cover), occur. This should be verified at the genus or species level. The high taxa diversity does not support a sampling effect that has been described for low absolute abundances (van der Heijden et al. 1999 ). In contrast, the classification of the taxonomic and functional community types differs in the NW-WS. Despite taxonomic differences ( Tax A, Tax B, Tax C), almost all NW-WS communities clustered in Func B and shared similar functional traits adapted to the ecosystem properties. With this functional consistency we suggest that Func B-communities with their high standing stocks and low functional biodiversity prefer variable and seasonally changing conditions (e.g., seasonal sea-ice cover and food pulses) in the organic-rich habitats of the NW-WS (Säring et al. 2022 ). Previous studies also revealed high abundances of infauna (Veit-Köhler et al. 2018 ; Säring et al. 2022 ) and epifauna organisms (Gutt et al. 2016 ) in the NW-WS. However, results regarding functional structure of the benthos differed. While macroepifaunal communities in the NW-WS were largely composed of sessile suspension feeders, which filter organic particles from the water column (Gutt et al. 2016 ), infaunal polychaete assemblages (our Func B) were dominated by mobile deposit feeders and predators. The movement of polychaetes in the NW-WS was particularly dominated by burrowing forms with little filter feeders, which may affect bioturbation processes and sediment stratification. High concentrations of Chl a and other primary production pigments, even in deeper sediment layers (Veit-Köhler et al. 2018 ), support these findings suggesting that functional adaptations in the NW-WS play a crucial role in ecosystem and biogeochemical processes under these seasonally variable conditions. We also observed differences between the taxonomic and functional classification of community types for the DP and BS, as the same taxonomic community type ( Tax F) showed different functional adaptations clustered in: Func D (BS and DP) and Func E (DP only). The more common Func D was composed of less mobile deposit feeders and omnivores, whereas Func E was characterized by more predators and mobile types. Interestingly, taxonomic and functional community types from DP and BS showed closer similarities to the FT-communities than to those in the NW-WS (Fig. 3 a,b, SI1, SI2). We assume that heterogeneous functional communities such as Func E, with their high diversity of functional traits (e.g., feeding strategies), are adapted to extreme environmental conditions. In our case ice-cover extremes (DP: none, FT: high & constant) lead to low food availability in both regions (Säring et al. 2022 ). This finding is noteworthy as it contrasts with the taxonomic differences between the geographically distant AP and FT regions (e.g., st. 6 and 37 are 1321 km apart). Patchy distribution patterns or site-to-site variability, as observed across these regions, are typical features of Antarctic benthic organisms (e.g., Kaiser et al. 2007 ; Pabis et al. 2014 ), highlighting the importance of replicate samples for each sampling site to minimize site-specific bias. Although we included such replicates, our results should be seen as a first indication of infauna biodiversity patterns related to regional environmental heterogeneity, rather than a comprehensive interpretation for the respective large-scale region (e.g., DP, BS). Future research, including additional sampling, may further improve our understanding of infauna community structure and variability in relation to habitat heterogeneity. We differentiated two taxonomic and functional polychaete community types in the FT region: Tax D/ Func C and Tax E/ Func E (Fig. 1 , 2 ). Tax D and Func C, defined as poor and mixed communities with low numbers of individuals, families, and functional groups (Tables SI2, SI4) were primarily composed of sessile deposit feeders. The structure and distribution of these community types only partially correspond to the macrofauna “Ice/ Ice Shelf-Water related community” described by Pineda-Metz et al. ( 2019 ) for the FT. Unlike Pineda-Metz et al. ( 2019 ), we observed Tax D and Func C exclusively at the inner slope of the central FT (~ 700 m depth) and not near the (then) position of iceberg A23-A (st. 37, Fig. 1 , 2 ). Such discrepancy could suggest local or temporal environmental drivers may play a stronger role in shaping different communities than can currently be covered by sampling in remote regions. The second community types we found in the FT region ( Tax E, Func E) showed a wider distribution, similar to the “Eastern Shelf community” of higher-taxon macrofauna identified by Voß ( 1988 ) and geographically expanded by Pineda-Metz et al. ( 2019 ). Similar macrofauna communities between the shelves east and west of the Filchner Trough and the continental slope in the north may be an indication of wider connectivity within the FT region (Pineda-Metz et al. 2019 ). Future studies should test whether the polychaete communities along the northern continental slope resemble those of the eastern and western FT shelves. The importance of integrated taxonomic and functional analyses Differences regarding the benthic community structure between our and previous studies may partly result from the use of different sampling devices, an inherent challenge in comparing benthic biodiversity. For example, Gutt et al. ( 2016 ) used an Agassiz trawl, a semi-quantitative device targeting larger epi- and infauna over large areas, Glover et al. ( 2008 ) used a megacorer, Pineda-Metz et al. ( 2019 ) and Hilbig et al. ( 2006 ) applied the multibox corer, and we used the MUC to sample smaller infaunal organisms in the sediment. While our study provides valuable insights into polychaete community structure across different WS regions, family-level taxonomic resolution may bias the results, e.g., underestimating finer-scale diversity and functional differentiation. Identification on genus or species level could provide more detailed insights. However, we assume that the differences found at family level also hold at lower taxonomic levels, as most polychaete families are well-supported monophyletic groups (Fauchald and Rouse 1997 ). Older than genera or species, families provide a broader understanding of evolutionary and biogeographic influences on the taxonomic structure beyond species diversity (Ricklefs 1987 ). Unfortunately, complex classification efforts, especially in understudied regions such as the SO remain time-consuming, costly and often challenging for broad ecological surveys. To capture the various facets of biodiversity comprehensively, taxonomic information alone is insufficient. Our approach allowed a first integrative view of infaunal polychaete diversity in an understudied, climate-sensitive region by addressing taxonomic and functional classification. We highlight that functional groups can reflect interesting aspects in regional taxonomic biodiversity patterns, such as resemblance in distant but environmentally similar regions and thus should be integrated into future benthic ecological studies to understand distributional dynamics, especially if taxonomic information is lacking. Functional identities linked with environmental conditions can provide valuable tools for conservation planning, particularly for regions threatened by climate change. However, functional identities should complement and not replace taxonomic approaches to fully capture biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Declarations Author contribution FW designed study, did formal analysis, investigation, visualization, writing original draft preparation, reviewing and editing. KJ was involved in supervision, writing original draft preparation, reviewing and editing. HP was involved in writing original draft preparation, reviewing and editing. AB was involved in data acquisition and validation, writing-reviewing original draft. BB was involved in investigation and data acquisition. GVK was involved in investigation, writing original draft preparation, reviewing and editing, project administration. HL designed study, did validation, writing original draft preparation, reviewing and editing, project administration, supervision. Funding The present work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in the framework of the priority program SPP 1158 "Antarctic Research with comparative investigations in Arctic ice areas" (Grants LI 2313/3-1, LI 2313/6-1 and VE 260/10-1). Support was given by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research (Grants AWI_PS81_03, AWI_PS96_02, AWI_PS118). Friederike Weith was supported by the Professorinnenprogramm III (University of Rostock). Financial interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Ethical approval No animal testing was performed during this study. Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests. Sampling and field studies All necessary permits for sampling and observational field studies have been obtained by the authors from the competent authorities and are mentioned in the acknowledgements, if applicable. The study is compliant with CBD and Nagoya protocols. Data availability statement All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article, its supplementary information files, or have been deposited in the public database PANGAEA.org. References Brasier MJ, Barnes D, Bax N, Brandt A, Christianson AB, Constable AJ, Downey R, Figuerola B, Griffiths H, Gutt J, Lockhart S, Morley SA, Post AL, Van de Putte A, Saeedi H, Stark JS, Sumner M, Waller CL (2021) Responses of Southern Ocean Seafloor Habitats and Communities to Global and Local Drivers of Change. Front. Mar. Sci. 8: 622721 doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.622721 Clarke KR, Gorley RN, Sommerfield PJ, Warwick RM (2014) Change in marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation. PRIMER-E: Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom Cummings VJ, Hewitt JE, Thrush SF, Marriott PM, Halliday NJ, Norkko A (2018) Linking Ross Sea Coastal Benthic Communities to Environmental Conditions: Documenting Baselines in a Spatially Variable and Changing World. Front. Mar. Sci. 5 doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00232 Dorschel B (2019) The Expedition PS118 of the Research Vessel POLARSTERN to the Weddell Sea in 2019. Ber. Polar- und Meeresforsch, Bremerhaven, AWI for Polar and Marine Research 735: 149 doi: 10.2312/BzPM_0735_2019 Ellingsen KE, Brandt A, Ebbe B, Linse K (2007) Diversity and species distribution of polychaetes, isopods and bivalves in the Atlantic sector of the deep Southern Ocean. Polar Biol. 30: 1265-1273 doi: 10.1007/s00300-007-0287-x Fauchald K, Jumars PA (1979) The diet of worms: a study of polychaete feeding guilds. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Annu. Rev. 17: 193-284 Fauchald K, Rouse G (1997) Polychaete systematics: Past and present. Zool. Scr. 26: 71-138 doi: 10.1111/j.1463-6409.1997.tb00411.x Gerdes D, Klages M, Arntz WE, Herman RL, Galron J, Hain S (1992) Quantitative investigations on macrobenthos communities of the southeastern Weddell Sea shelf based on multibox corer samples. Polar Biol. 12 doi: 10.1007/bf00238272 Glover AG, Smith CR, Mincks SL, Sumida PYG, Thurber AR (2008) Macrofaunal abundance and composition on the West Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf: Evidence for a sediment ‘food bank’ and similarities to deep-sea habitats. Deep-Sea Res. II: Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 55: 2491-2501 doi: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.06.008 Griffiths HJ, Cummings VJ, Van de Putte A, Whittle RJ, Waller CL (2024) Antarctic benthic ecology. Nat. Rev. Earth Environ. 5: 645-664 doi: 10.1038/s43017-024-00583-5 Gutt, J (2007) Antarctic macro-zoobenthic communities: A review and an ecological classification. Antarct. Sci. 19: 165–182 doi: 0.1017/S0954102007000247 Gutt J (2013) The expedition of the research vessel "Polarstern" to the Antarctic in 2013 (ANT-XXIX/3). Ber. Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, AWI for Polar and Marine Research 665: 151 p. doi: 10.2312/BzPM_0665_2013 Gutt J, Alvaro MC, Barco A, Böhmer A, Bracher A, David B, De Ridder C, Dorschel B, Eléaume M, Janussen D, Kersken D, López-González PJ, Martínez-Baraldés I, Schröder M, Segelken-Voigt A, Teixidó N (2016) Macroepibenthic communities at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, an ecological survey at different spatial scales. Polar Biol. 39: 829-849 doi: 10.1007/s00300-015-1797-6 Hartman O (1964) Polychaeta Errantia of Antarctica. American Geophysical Union of the National Academy of Science - National Research Council., Washington, D. C., United States of America Hartman O (1976) Polychaeta from the Weddell Sea Quadrant, Antarctica. Antarctic Research Series, Biology of the Antarctic Seas VI 26: 125-223 doi: 10.1002/9781118664599 Hartman O (1996) Polychaeta Myzostomidae and Sedentaria of Antarctica. American Geophysical Union of the National Academy of Science - National Research Council, Washington, D. C., United States of America Hartmann-Schröder G (1996) Annelida, Borstenwürmer, Polychaeta, Die Tierwelt Deutschlands und der angrenzenden Meeresteile. Gustav-Fischer, Jena, Germany Hayward PJ, Ryland JS (2017) Handbook of the marine fauna of North-West Europe. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom Hewitt JE, Thrush SF, Dayton PD (2008) Habitat variation, species diversity and ecological functioning in a marine system. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 366: 116-122 doi: 10.1016/j.jembe.2008.07.016 Hilbig B, Gerdes D, Montiel A (2006) Distribution patterns and biodiversity in polychaete communities of the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula area (Southern Ocean). J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K. 86: 711-725 doi: 10.1017/S0025315406013610 [dataset] Janout, MA, Damerell G, Diener T, Hölemann JA, Röhler A, Wang Y, Wiegand K, Wiskandt J, Tippenhauer S (2020) Physical oceanography measured on water bottle samples during Polarstern cruise PS118, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, PANGAEA. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.913182 Jansen J, Hill NA, Dunstan PK, Cougnon EA, Galton-Fenzi BK, Johnson CR (2018a) Mapping Antarctic Suspension Feeder Abundances and Seafloor Food-Availability, and Modeling Their Change After a Major Glacier Calving. Front. Ecol. Evol. 6 doi: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00094 Jansen J, Hill NA, Dunstan PK, Eléaume MP, Johnson CR (2018b) Taxonomic Resolution, Functional Traits, and the Influence of Species Groupings on Mapping Antarctic Seafloor Biodiversity. Front. Ecol. Evol. 6 doi: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00081 Jumars PA, Dorgan KM, Lindsay SM (2015) Diet of Worms Emended: An Update of Polychaete Feeding Guilds. Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci. 7: 497-520 doi: 10.1146/annurev-marine-010814-020007 Kaiser S, Barnes DKA, Brandt A (2007) Slope and deep-sea abundance across scales: Southern Ocean isopods show how complex the deep sea can be. Deep-Sea Res. II: Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 54: 1776-1789 doi: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.07.006 Link H, Veit-Köhler G, Seifert D, Bodur Y (2016) Tracing the effects of changing ice cover on benthic ecosystem functioning – from Meio to Macro. In: Schröder M (ed) The Expedition PS96 of the Research Vessel POLARSTERN to the southern Weddell Sea in 2015/2016. Ber. Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, AWI for Polar and Marine Research, pp 105-112 [data set]. Matsuoka K, Skoglund A, Roth G (2018) Quantarctica. Norwegian Polar Institute. Pabis K, Kędra M, Gromisz S (2014) Distinct or similar? Soft bottom polychaete diversity in Arctic and Antarctic glacial fjords. Hydrobiologia 742: 279-294 doi: 10.1007/s10750-014-1991-5 Pettibone MH (1982) Polychaeta. In: Parker SP (ed) Synopsis and Classification of living organisms. McGraw-Hill, New York, United States of America, pp 3-50 Piepenburg D, Schmid MK, Gerdes D (2002) The benthos off King George Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica): further evidence for a lack of a latitudinal biomass cline in the Southern Ocean. Polar Biol. 25: 146-158 doi: 10.1007/s003000100322 Pineda-Metz SEA, Isla E, Gerdes D (2019) Benthic communities of the Filchner Region (Weddell Sea, Antarctica). MEPS 628: 37-54 doi: 10.3354/meps13093 PolytraitsTeam (2025) Polytraits: A database on biological traits of polychaetes. LifewatchGreece, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Post AL, Beaman RJ, O’Brien PE, Eléaume M, Riddle MJ (2011) Community structure and benthic habitats across the George V Shelf, East Antarctica: Trends through space and time. Deep-Sea Res. II: Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 58: 105-118 doi: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.05.020 QGIS.org (2025) QGIS Geographic Information System. QGIS Association Ricklefs RE (1987) Community diversity: relatives roles of local and regional processes. Science 235: 167-171 [data set] Säring F, Bruhn M, Weßels A-K, Bohn M, Veit-Köhler G (2021a) Meiofauna abundance from multicorer and box corer samples for seven stations from the Weddell Sea (POLARSTERN cruise PS 96, ANT-XXXI/2, December 2015–February 2016) PANGAEA. https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.932636 [data set] Säring F, Seifert D, Baumann M, Link H (2021b) Macrofauna abundance from multicorer and box corer samples for ten stations around the Antarctic Peninsula (POLARSTERN cruise PS 81, ANT-XXIX/3, January–March 2013). PANGAEA. https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.932693 Säring F, Veit-Köhler G, Seifert D, Liskow I, Link H (2022) Sea-ice-related environmental drivers affect meiofauna and macrofauna communities differently at large scales (Southern Ocean, Antarctic). MEPS 700: 13-37 doi: 10.3354/meps14188 Schröder M (2016) The Expedition PS96 of the Research Vessel POLARSTERN to the southern Weddell Sea in 2015/2016. Ber. Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, AWI for Polar and Marine Research 700: 142 doi doi: 10.2312/BzPM_0700_2016 [dataset] Schröder M, Wisotzki A, van Caspel M (2013) Physical oceanography measured on water bottle samples during POLARSTERN cruise ANT-XXIX/3. Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, PANGAEA. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.811818 [dataset] Schröder M, Ryan S, Wisotzki A (2016) Physical oceanography measured on water bottle samples during POLARSTERN cruise PS96 (ANT-XXXI/2 FROSN). Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, PANGAEA. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.859035 Schüller M, Ebbe B (2014) 5.13. Polychaetes. In: De Broyer C, Koubbi P, Griffiths H, Raymond B, d’Udekem d’Acoz C, Van de Putte A, Danis B, Grant S, Gutt J, Held C, Hosie G, Huettmann F, Post A, Ropert-Coudert Y (eds) Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, Cambridge, United Kingdom, pp 134-137 Schüller M, Ebbe B, Wägele JW (2009) Community structure and diversity of polychaetes (Annelida) in the deep Weddell Sea (Southern Ocean) and adjacent basins. Mar. Biodiver. 39: 95-108 doi: 10.1007/s12526-009-0009-4 Sunday JM, Pecl GT, Frusher S, Hobday AJ, Hill N, Holbrook NJ, Edgar GJ, Stuart-Smith R, Barrett N, Wernberg T, Watson RA, Smale DA, Fulton EA, Slawinski D, Feng M, Radford BT, Thompson PA, Bates AE (2015) Species traits and climate velocity explain geographic range shifts in an ocean-warming hotspot. Ecol. Lett. 18: 944-953 doi: 10.1111/ele.12474 Van der Heijden MGA, Klironomos JN, Ursic M, Moutoglis P, Streitwolf-Engel R, Boller T, Wiemken A, Sanders IR (1999) „Sampling Effect“, a problem in biodiversity manipulation? A reply to David A. Wardle. Oikos. 408-410. doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/3546758 Veit-Köhler G, Durst S, Schuckenbrock J, Hauquier F, Durán Suja L, Dorschel B, Vanreusel A, Martínez Arbizu P (2018) Oceanographic and topographic conditions structure benthic meiofauna communities in the Weddell Sea, Bransfield Strait and Drake Passage (Antarctic). Prog. Oceanogr. 162: 240-256 doi: 10.1016/j.pocean.2018.03.005 Voß J (1988) Zoogeographie und Gemeinschaftsanalyse des Makrozoobenthos des Weddellmeeres (Antarktis). Ber. Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, AWI for Polar and Marine Research 45: 1-145 [data set] Weith F, Bick A, Behrend B, Seifert D, Baumann M, Link H (2024) Polychaete families in sediment samples from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea: data from multicorer and box corer samples from stations of POLARSTERN cruises PS81, PS96, and PS118, PANGAEA. doi: 10.1594/PANGAEA.960304 Box 1 Box 1 Category for functional traits and groups. Functional traits for polychaetes according to Fauchald and Jumars (1979), Jumars et al. (2015) and PolytraitsTeam (2023). Functional groups derived from specific combinations of functional traits listed in descending order of occurrence Behavioral attribute Functional trait Category (Abbreviation) Feeding type Surface deposit feeder S Subsurface deposit feeder Sb Predator P Omnivore O Suspension feeder F Motility Motile M discretely motile DM no motility N Movement Crawling C Burrowing B Sessile Se Acronym Functional group SbMB Motile burrowing subsurface deposit feeder SMB Motile burrowing surface deposit feeder PMC Motile crawling predator SbDB Discretely motile burrowing subsurface deposit feeder OMC Motile crawling omnivore PMB Motile burrowing predator SDB Discretely motile burrowing surface deposit feeder SDSe Discretely motile sessile surface deposit feeder ODC Discretely motile crawling omnivore PDB Discretely motile burrowing predator FNSe No motile sessile suspension feeder SbDC Discretely motile crawling subsurface deposit feeder SbMC Motile crawling subsurface deposit feeder SMC Motile crawling surface deposit feeder Table 1 Table 1 Station list and sampling during RV Polarstern expeditions PS81 (January 22–March 18, 2013), PS96 (December 06, 2015–February 14, 2016) and PS118 (February 9–April 10, 2019). Multicorers (MUC) and the giant box corer (GKG) were deployed for polychaete community sampling. Only successful MUC and GKG deployments, which were used for faunal analyses, are listed. Expedition & Region St. no. of fauna cores Date Latitude Longitude Depth [m] Gear PS81 Antarctic Peninsula (AP) Drake Passage (DP) 235-2 3 2013-03-07 62'16.35'S 61'10.23'W 355 MUC 241-2 1 2013-03-09 62'06.59'S 60'36.47'W 400 GKG 241-3 1 2013-03-09 62'06.60'S 60'36.51'W 403 GKG 241-4 1 2013-03-09 62'06.59'S 60'36.50'W 403 GKG 241-5 1 2013-03-09 62'06.60'S 60'36.50'W 403 GKG Bransfield Strait (BS) 217-5 3 2013-03-02 62'53.25'S 58'14.13'W 532 MUC 225-2 3 2013-02-04 62'56.08'S 58'40.76'W 543 MUC Northwestern Weddell Sea (NW-WS) 120-4 3 2013-01-28 63'04.78'S 54'31.45'W 494 MUC 163-3 3 2013-02-11 63'50.97'S 56'25.24'W 517 MUC 190-6 3 2013-02-21 63'50.58'S 55'31.66'W 389 MUC PS118 6-2 2 2019-03-05 64'58.72'S 57'46.38'W 423 MUC 6-3 2 2019-03-05 64'58.61'S 57'46.36'W 425 MUC 8-5 1 2019-03-11 63'58.26'S 55'54.32'W 413 MUC 8-7 2 2019-03-11 63'57.88'S 55'54.47'W 415 MUC 38-3 3 2019-03-22 63'04.48'S 54'20.22'W 427 MUC PS96 Southeastern WS Filchner Trough (FT) region 17-3 3 2016-01-04 75'00.85'S 32'52.51'W 608 GKG 26-7 1 2016-01-08 75'16.19'S 37'54.96'W 416 MUC 26-8 2 2016-01-08 75'16.10'S 37'54.85'W 415 MUC 26-10 1 2016-01-08 75'15.80'S 37'54.87'W 414 MUC 26-11 1 2016-01-08 75'15.65'S 37'54.87'W 414 MUC 48-7 3 2016-01-19 74'45.52'S 35'20.91'W 482 MUC 48-8 3 2016-01-19 74'45.52'S 35'20.91'W 482 MUC 37-8 3 2016-01-16 75'43.30'S 42'27.71'W 391 MUC 37-9 2 2016-01-17 75'43.29'S 42'27.66'W 391 MUC 61-5 1 2016-01-21 76'05.93'S 30'18.23'W 468 MUC 61-6 3 2016-01-22 76'05.89'S 30'18.38'W 467 MUC 72-9 6 24.01.2016 75'50.85'S 32'17.44'W 755 MUC Supplementary Files WeithetalMarBiodsupplement.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Major Revisions Needed 13 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 03 Jun, 2025 Editor invited by journal 21 May, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 20 May, 2025 First submitted to journal 16 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6681155","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Short Report","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":465948475,"identity":"0e26b30a-3be3-4bbc-b778-919bacf345e0","order_by":0,"name":"Friederike Weith","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABCUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBAC9gbGBgYeBgYeCTDXgCGBH0gdYGDDrYXnAKoWgwTJBoJaQAQQQ7QwGCQYgETwapE+3PjgTcU9Gcn2BjaJDwV/8oyPnzE8wFBmg1sLX2Kz4ZwzxTzSPAfYJGcYGBSbnckBWnQuDacWex7GNmnetgQeOYkEtts8BgaJ2w7kbjjA2HYYty08jO2/ef8Btcg/YLv9B6hlc/9bkJb/+LS0MfM2JPBISzCw3QaGWOIGCbAtB/BpaZaccyyBR7Insf1nj4Fx4owb7z8cSDiXjEcL+8MPb2oS7CWOHz5s8OOPXGJ/f1ryhw9ldji1IAFgnMJBAjEaRsEoGAWjYBTgBADlZlRStmtwXAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7306-8263","institution":"Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar und Meeresforschung: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum fur Polar- und Meeresforschung","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Friederike","middleName":"","lastName":"Weith","suffix":""},{"id":465948476,"identity":"0bcab051-4bc7-48b3-b7c0-0ef35ab58259","order_by":1,"name":"Andreas Bick","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Rostock: Universitat Rostock","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Andreas","middleName":"","lastName":"Bick","suffix":""},{"id":465948477,"identity":"d5e12195-8ade-4423-babc-659c41e489d9","order_by":2,"name":"Kerstin Jerosch","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar und Meeresforschung: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum fur Polar- und Meeresforschung","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kerstin","middleName":"","lastName":"Jerosch","suffix":""},{"id":465948478,"identity":"38f5dec8-6edc-4682-9b9c-8c106fd88c5f","order_by":3,"name":"Hendrik Pehlke","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar und Meeresforschung: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum fur Polar- und Meeresforschung","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hendrik","middleName":"","lastName":"Pehlke","suffix":""},{"id":465948479,"identity":"ef1a8c53-55b2-40f3-ad29-1126498122ce","order_by":4,"name":"Ben Behrend","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Rostock: Universitat Rostock","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ben","middleName":"","lastName":"Behrend","suffix":""},{"id":465948480,"identity":"2a42fad9-fca3-4bc4-97d5-a5f433e7679a","order_by":5,"name":"Gritta Veit-Köhler","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"SaM DZMB: Senckenberg am Meer Deutsches Zentrum fur Marine Biodiversitatsforschung","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gritta","middleName":"","lastName":"Veit-Köhler","suffix":""},{"id":465948481,"identity":"cd711fba-44cc-4bde-baed-109a7fe9ea70","order_by":6,"name":"Heike Link","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Rostock: Universitat Rostock","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Heike","middleName":"","lastName":"Link","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-05-16 13:28:45","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6681155/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6681155/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":84045348,"identity":"9c03210c-262c-4775-8c50-07e8043dffa3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-06 07:14:58","extension":"jpg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":129528,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaxonomic polychaete community composition at family level: \u003c/strong\u003eFauna abundance from single core data averaged per station. Samples collected during RV \u003cem\u003ePolarstern\u003c/em\u003e expeditions PS81 and PS118 around the Antarctic Peninsula (10 sites, yellow frame) and PS96 to the Filchner Trough region (6 sites, blue frame). Black dots with small numbers indicate sampling sites. Sizes of bubbles represent the abundance (individuals) of polychaetes per 100 cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e. Red box indicates the chosen map section of the SO. Letters represent clusters (A–F) of the taxonomic polychaete communities. Polar Stereographic WGS84 projection\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6681155/v1/96badd4aeea45c39e63bc9e4.jpg"},{"id":84044595,"identity":"90350c99-105f-4f4f-871d-d7ca4e01d29d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-06 07:06:58","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":104158,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunctional polychaete community composition based on feeding, motility and movement type: \u003c/strong\u003efauna abundance from single core data averaged per station. Samples collected during RV \u003cem\u003ePolarstern\u003c/em\u003e expeditions PS81 and PS118 around the Antarctic Peninsula (10 stations, yellow frame) and PS96 to the Filchner Trough region (6 stations, blue frame). Black dots with small numbers indicate stations. Sizes of bubbles represent the abundance of polychaetes per 100 cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e (same as Fig. 1). Feeding types: Sb = subsurface deposit feeder, S = surface deposit feeder, O = omnivore, P = predator, F = suspension/filter feeder; Motility: M = motile, D = discretely motile, N = none; Movement: B = burrowing, C = crawling, Se = sessile. Red box represents the chosen map section of the SO. Letters represent clusters (A–E) of the functional polychaete communities. Polar Stereographic WGS84 projection\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6681155/v1/33aacdb31f786a522d1503f9.jpg"},{"id":84044601,"identity":"af36a75c-3ccb-44bb-9ea4-415d5c26e8ff","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-06 07:06:58","extension":"jpg","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":61396,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults obtained with multivariate statistical analysis of faunal properties.\u003c/strong\u003e Similarity of the\u003cstrong\u003e(a)\u003c/strong\u003e taxonomic (family level) and \u003cstrong\u003e(b)\u003c/strong\u003efunctional polychaete communities: non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) of the Bray-Curtis similarity of non-transformed abundance data from stations sampled in different regions (Fig. 1, 2) during PS81, PS96 and PS118. Ellipses represent \u003cstrong\u003e(a) \u003c/strong\u003etaxonomic (A–F) and in \u003cstrong\u003e(b)\u003c/strong\u003e functional (A–E) polychaete community clusters (Fig. SI1, SI2, respectively)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6681155/v1/6e07da6a5a39b59d6addcbb1.jpg"},{"id":84045578,"identity":"3a71beb2-6724-435d-a1c2-7e0d5a3638a9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-06 07:22:59","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1338121,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6681155/v1/4fe6e0df-e1c4-4b2a-a97a-b98cb0dcdf8a.pdf"},{"id":84044599,"identity":"3a312bf3-7113-42b9-a1e3-95f6fc702533","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-06 07:06:58","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":552222,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"WeithetalMarBiodsupplement.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6681155/v1/89be3ddfbfacdc50e64b83d6.docx"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Infaunal polychaete communities from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Filchner Trough region (Weddell Sea)","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eDistinctive and extreme environmental conditions are among the reasons for the remarkable biodiversity on the seafloor of the Southern Ocean (SO). This unique Antarctic benthic diversity is under increasing pressure from the effects of climate change, particularly in the extended Weddell Sea (WS), including the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) (Brasier et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e, Griffiths et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). Understanding benthic community composition and distribution patterns in such climate-sensitive regions is crucial for developing conservation strategies and predicting future biodiversity changes. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the composition and distribution of epifauna communities in shallow coastal and shelf regions of the SO (Weddell Sea: Gutt et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Pineda-Metz et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e; East Antarctic: Post et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e; Cummings et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Jansen et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018a\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003eb\u003c/span\u003e), but knowledge of smaller and more abundant WS-shelf infauna remains limited, with few exceptions (e.g., Hilbig et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e; Ellingsen et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e; Veit-K\u0026ouml;hler et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; S\u0026auml;ring et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePolychaetes represent a speciose and numerically dominant macroinfauna taxon in the WS, contributing up to 50% of total macrobenthic abundance and occurring in habitats where other macroinfauna taxa are scarce (Gerdes et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e; Piepenburg et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e; S\u0026auml;ring et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). They show a high functional diversity with a variety of feeding types (e.g., filter and deposit feeders) including sedentary, mobile and tube-building sessile taxa (Fauchald and Jumars \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1979\u003c/span\u003e; Jumars et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; PolytraitsTeam \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). This broad array of functional traits enables polychaetes to adapt to a wide spectrum of different habitats and environmental conditions (Sch\u0026uuml;ller and Ebbe \u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e; Jumars et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). Nevertheless, the biodiversity and compositional patterns of polychaete assemblages in the extended WS region are still poorly understood (e.g., Sch\u0026uuml;ller et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGrouping organisms by their functional traits opens possibilities to assess biodiversity in different aspects, including community structure, ecosystem function and responses to environmental change (Sunday et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). Previous studies on epifauna functional traits in the SO have identified motility and feeding strategies as main factors shaping communities of mainly sessile suspension feeders and mobile deposit feeders (Gutt et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Jansen et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018b\u003c/span\u003e). For WS infauna communities (e.g., polychaetes), an integrated analysis of taxonomic and functional information has not yet been applied. We aim to investigate how infaunal polychaete communities are structured, in terms of taxonomic (higher taxon level: family) and functional groups (feeding, motility, movement type) across two key regions of the WS (extended geographic range: Antarctic Peninsula and Filchner Trough). Our results provide insights into polychaete community structure and infaunal biodiversity in this climate-sensitive region.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Material and Methods","content":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStudy area and sampling procedure during the expeditions\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSediment samples for polychaete community analysis from 16 stations (st.) were collected during three expeditions with \u003cem\u003eRV\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003ePolarstern\u003c/em\u003e: PS81, PS96, PS118 (austral summer seasons 2013, 2016, 2019) sailing to the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula (Drake Passage, Bransfield Strait, northwestern WS) and the Filchner Trough region in the southeastern WS (Fig. 1, 2; Table 1; Gutt 2013; Schr\u0026ouml;der 2016; Dorschel 2019). Water depth at the sampled stations ranged from 350 to 755 m, bottom temperature from -1.92 to 0.65 \u0026deg;C and bottom salinity from 34.49 to 34.67 (Schr\u0026ouml;der et al. 2013, 2016, Janout et al. 2019). Geographic regions are abbreviated using their initials: Antarctic Peninsula (AP) including DP = Drake Passage (st. 235, 241/244), BS = Bransfield Strait (st. 215/217, 225), NW-WS = northwestern Weddell Sea (st. 6, 8, 38, 120, 163, 115/190); Filchner Trough region = FT (st. 17, 26, 37, 48, 61, 72).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere possible, representative sampling locations of a station were determined based on Ocean Floor Observation System surveys and bathymetry. At each station, the multicorer (MUC) was deployed 1\u0026ndash;5 times, providing a minimum of 3 fauna core replicates per station (Table 1). Only during PS 81, macrofauna samples were collected with a MUC10 or by subsampling a giant box corer (GKG). In all cases, the core liners had an\u0026nbsp;internal diameter of 94 mm and a surface area of 69.4 cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e (S\u0026auml;ring et al. 2021a, S\u0026auml;ring et al 2021b, Weith et al. 2024).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePolychaete sample processing and identification\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFaunal samples (Table 1) were processed as described\u0026nbsp;by S\u0026auml;ring et al. (2022). Fixed macrofauna samples were sieved with 32\u0026micro;m-filtered tap water over a 500-\u0026micro;m sieve. Polychaetes (\u0026gt; 500 \u0026micro;m) were sorted using Leica Mz 12.5 and Carl Zeiss Stemi 2000 stereomicroscopes, and identified to family level using identification keys, e.g., Hartman (1964; 1976); Fauchald and Jumars (1979); Pettibone (1982); Hartman (1996); Hartmann-Schr\u0026ouml;der (1996); Hayward and Ryland (2017).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePolychaete families were assigned to functional groups based on traits within categories (listed in Box 1). Categories were selected given their potential influence on ecosystem functions, as well as the assumption that differences in traits are related to the habitat (Hewitt et al. 2008). Traits assignments were based on visual inspection of specimen habitus and according to relevant (e.g., taxonomic) literature. If more than one trait was documented for a taxon in the literature, we decided after the visual inspection. We did not find differences in traits within the families in our samples. For detailed information see Table SI1. We counted the total number of individuals per identified taxon from the top to the bottom of each sediment core (mean depth of cores analyzed: 23 cm).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMultivariate analyses of the community composition\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe used individual counts for each (a) taxonomic (family level) or (b) functional group to calculate abundances as individuals per 100 cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e for the analyses; average per station was used for descriptive plots and calculating biodiversity indices (taxon/functional group richness \u003cem\u003eS\u003c/em\u003e, Shannon-Wiener index \u003cem\u003eH\u0026rsquo;\u003c/em\u003e, evenness \u003cem\u003eJ\u0026rsquo;\u003c/em\u003e, Simpson index \u003cem\u003e\u0026lambda;\u003c/em\u003e). Bray-Curtis similarity was applied as resemblance measure for untransformed polychaete community data for all matrices. Similarities between communities (taxonomic or functional groups) were visualized using non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS). Hierarchical cluster analysis (using average-group linking, similarity 50%) was applied to differentiate (a) taxonomic and (b) functional communities and define group sites with similar community compositions. We used SIMPER analysis to determine the mean similarity of communities within clusters, to calculate the dissimilarity between clusters, and to identify which (a) taxonomic or (b) functional groups contribute most to them. All multivariate analyses were performed in PRIMER v7 (Clarke et al. 2014). Maps were created with QGIS (QGIS.org 2025) using Quantarctica for basemaps (Matsuoka et al. 2018).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eRecorded taxa and functional groups in the Weddell Sea\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn total, 1,605 polychaetes belonging to 34 families were recorded, data available from PANGAEA: Weith et al. (2024). Across samples (\u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;58) Paraonidae were the dominant family with an average abundance of 9.1 ind. per 100 cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e (SD\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;12.1), followed by Cirratulidae (8.4 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e \u0026plusmn; 13.7), Hesionidae (5.2 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e \u0026plusmn; 10.8), Opheliidae (3.9 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e \u0026plusmn; 8) and Maldanidae (2.4 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026plusmn; 3.4). Other polychaete families found in descending order of abundance are: Lumbrineridae, Spionidae, Syllidae, Ampharetidae, Onuphidae, Glyceridae, Dorvilleidae, Sternaspidae, Sabellidae, Scalibregmatidae, Nephtyidae, Sphaerodoridae, Orbiniidae, Polynoidae, Terebellidae, Phyllodocidae, Flabelligeridae, Amphinomidae, Acrocirridae, Oweniidae, Capitellidae, Trichobranchidae, Nereididae, Chaetopteridae, Pisionidae, Pilargidae, Oenonidae, Nerillidae, and Pectinariidae.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFamilies were assigned into 14 functional groups (based on feeding, motility and movement type, Table SI1, Box 1). The dominant functional group over all samples was motile borrowing subsurface deposit feeding SbMB (14.6 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e), followed by motile burrowing surface deposit feeding SMB (8.7 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e), crawling motile predators PMC (6.1 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e), burrowing discretely motile subsurface deposit feeding (SbDB) and crawling motile omnivore OMC (both 2.4 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e). Other functional groups are listed in descending order of average abundace: PMB, SDB, SDSe, ODC, PDB, FNSe, SbDC, SbMC, and SMC. The functional groups SbMB and PMC included the highest number of families (5, SbMB: Paraonidae, Opheliidae, Orbiniidae, Sternaspidae, Scalibregmatidae; PMC: Hesionidae, Nephtyidae, Phyllodocidae, Polynoidae, Oenonidae).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eRegional polychaete community composition in the Weddell Sea\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe highest polychaete abundances occurred in the NW-WS, highest at st. 8 (160.6 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e), followed by st. 38 and 190 (125.4 \u0026amp; 86.5 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e, resp.). The lowest abundances were observed for the deepest (608.2\u0026ndash;755.1 m) sampling sites located in the FT region (st. 17 \u0026amp; 72 both 11.5 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e; Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The highest taxonomic richness was recorded at st. 37 in the FT region followed by the DP sites, the lowest at st. 6 and 120 in the NW-WS (Table SI2). Shannon-Wiener diversity was lower in the NW-WS than in all other regions (Table SI2).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCirratulidae were dominant at the southern sampling sites in the NW-WS (st. 6 \u0026amp; 8 with 16 \u0026amp; 43.1 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e, resp.), whereas Paraonidae showed an opposite pattern with higher abundances at northern sites (st. 120, 38 and 190: 18.7, 39.1 and 32.2 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e, resp.; Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). In the BS, Ampharetidae showed the highest abundances across all sampling sites (st. 217 \u0026amp; 225: 4.8 \u0026amp; 3.4 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e, resp.). Sternaspidae and Onuphidae were dominant at the BS st. 225 (4.8 \u0026amp; 3.8 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e, resp.) and the DP st. 235 (4.3 \u0026amp; 3.8 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e, resp.) but were scarce in the NW-WS and not observed in the FT region. Sabellidae were only found in the DP, BS and at some sampling sites in the FT region (st. 37, 17, 26), but were not detected in the NW-WS.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe cluster analysis of the polychaete communities based on taxonomic groups distingushed six clusters (\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eA\u0026ndash;\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eF) at a similarity of 50% (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003ea, SI1). In the SIMPER analysis, within-group similarity ranged from 50.1\u0026ndash;63.3%, whereas the between-group dissimilarity ranged from 53.2\u0026ndash;87.9% (Table SI3). No within-group similarity was calculated for \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eB (st. 163) which consisted of a single site. In \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eA (st. 6, 120) Paraonidae, Opheliidae and Hesionidae contributed over 90% to the within-group similarity. The remaining clusters were influenced by more polychaete families. The abundance of Onuphidae in \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eF (st. 217, 225, 235, 241) contributed over 21% to the between-group dissimilarity with other clusters, except for \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eF \u0026amp; \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eC and \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eF \u0026amp; \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eB (contribution less than 5%).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe functional polychaete community in the NW-WS was dominated by subsurface deposit feeders (SbMB), except for st. 163, where PMC was most abundant. SMB increased in abundance from north to south in NW-WS and was most dominant at st. 6 (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The lowest numbers of functional groups overall were observed at st. 120 (6 groups) in the NW-WS. Contrarily, the DP showed a high functional diversity (235: 12, 241: 11 functional groups; Table SI4) dominated by SbMB and surface deposit feeders (SMB, SDSe, SDB). St. 241 revealed the highest abundance of FNSe (3.5 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e) across all sites. Both BS and DP showed low proportions of \"predators\" and a higher proportion of \"sessile\" forms. St. 225 (BS) and 235 (DP) showed similarities in their functional community composition: SbMB being the dominant group followed by ODC and SMB. SDSe were most abundant at st. 217 (5.3 ind. 100 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/sup\u003e), but in the NW-WS they were only found at st. 163. Deeper sites in the FT (st. 17 \u0026amp; 72) showed low numbers of functional groups (Table SI4) and were dominated by deposit feeders (e.g., SDB, SbMB, SMB and SDSe). In contrast, at st. 37 and 26 predators (PMC, PMB, PDB) made up one third of the functional groups within the community (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe cluster analysis of the polychaete communities based on functional groups distinguished five clusters (\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eA\u0026ndash;\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eE) at a similarity of 50% (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003eb, SI2). St. 241 (DP) and sites in the FT region (st. 26, 37, 48, 61) formed one community type (\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eE). SIMPER analysis showed a within-group similarity from 57.1\u0026ndash;77.3% and a between-group dissimilarity from 52.3\u0026ndash;83% (Table SI5). \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eA (st. 6) consisted of a single site and no within-group similarity was calculated. SbMB contributed most to the within-group similarity with over 24% across all clusters. St. 225 and 235 showed the overall highest similarity of the functional community composition and formed \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eD together with st. 217. In \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eD (st. 217, 225, 235), SDSe contributed 23.3% to within-group similarity and also influenced between-group dissimilarity.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTaxonomic versus functional biodiversity of polychaetes\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe could demonstrate different patterns in community types distinguished based on taxonomic vs. functional classification. While this classification is valid for our dataset, it may not be generalizable to other regions. Many of the six taxonomic and five functional community types were present in several geographic regions (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). High abundances of Paraonidae and Cirratulidae were characteristic elements of communities across the WS. Regional patterns included Hesionidae, Opheliidae, and Maldanidae in the AP region, whereas Syllidae, Glyceridae, Lumbrineridae, Spionidae, and Ampharetidae were common in the FT region. These patterns are only partially consistent with previous results from Hilbig et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e), where cirratulids and maldanids (identified to genus or species) dominated around the AP. In contrast for the southeastern WS, amphinomids and cirratulid species dominated deeper regions (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;700 m), whereas spionid and syllid species in shallower (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;300 m) and further north sites (Hilbig et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e), compared to our FT sites (400\u0026ndash;700 m). Differences in time, sampling depths and local conditions may be responsible for the detected discrepancies. Notably, the taxonomic polychaete community composition at family level in the FT region in our study resembled those of the West AP shelf with similar depths (550\u0026ndash;610 m) described by Glover et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e), with high abundances of Paraonidae, Spionidae and Syllidae. Local environmental conditions (e.g., lower temperatures) and biogeographical processes may cause such similarities of taxonomic community compositions across different regions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe functional polychaete assemblages of soft sediments were mostly dominated by mobile burrowing subsurface deposit feeders, which matches previous findings for macrofauna communities in the SO (Gutt \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e). Interestingly, in our study, the classification of polychaete communities into taxonomic and functional types was consistent for the FT region but not for the AP region (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). One hypothesis could be that in the FT region particularly those specialized taxa that exhibit specific functional traits and adaptations to their respective habitat conditions (e.g., high or constant sea-ice cover), occur. This should be verified at the genus or species level. The high taxa diversity does not support a sampling effect that has been described for low absolute abundances (van der Heijden et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1999\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn contrast, the classification of the taxonomic and functional community types differs in the NW-WS. Despite taxonomic differences (\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eA, \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eB, \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eC), almost all NW-WS communities clustered in \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eB and shared similar functional traits adapted to the ecosystem properties. With this functional consistency we suggest that \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eB-communities with their high standing stocks and low functional biodiversity prefer variable and seasonally changing conditions (e.g., seasonal sea-ice cover and food pulses) in the organic-rich habitats of the NW-WS (S\u0026auml;ring et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Previous studies also revealed high abundances of infauna (Veit-K\u0026ouml;hler et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; S\u0026auml;ring et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e) and epifauna organisms (Gutt et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e) in the NW-WS. However, results regarding functional structure of the benthos differed. While macroepifaunal communities in the NW-WS were largely composed of sessile suspension feeders, which filter organic particles from the water column (Gutt et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e), infaunal polychaete assemblages (our \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eB) were dominated by mobile deposit feeders and predators.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe movement of polychaetes in the NW-WS was particularly dominated by burrowing forms with little filter feeders, which may affect bioturbation processes and sediment stratification. High concentrations of Chl\u003cem\u003ea\u003c/em\u003e and other primary production pigments, even in deeper sediment layers (Veit-K\u0026ouml;hler et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e), support these findings suggesting that functional adaptations in the NW-WS play a crucial role in ecosystem and biogeochemical processes under these seasonally variable conditions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe also observed differences between the taxonomic and functional classification of community types for the DP and BS, as the same taxonomic community type (\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eF) showed different functional adaptations clustered in: \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eD (BS and DP) and \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eE (DP only). The more common \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eD was composed of less mobile deposit feeders and omnivores, whereas \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eE was characterized by more predators and mobile types. Interestingly, taxonomic and functional community types from DP and BS showed closer similarities to the FT-communities than to those in the NW-WS (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003ea,b, SI1, SI2). We assume that heterogeneous functional communities such as \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eE, with their high diversity of functional traits (e.g., feeding strategies), are adapted to extreme environmental conditions. In our case ice-cover extremes (DP: none, FT: high \u0026amp; constant) lead to low food availability in both regions (S\u0026auml;ring et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). This finding is noteworthy as it contrasts with the taxonomic differences between the geographically distant AP and FT regions (e.g., st. 6 and 37 are 1321 km apart). Patchy distribution patterns or site-to-site variability, as observed across these regions, are typical features of Antarctic benthic organisms (e.g., Kaiser et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e; Pabis et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e), highlighting the importance of replicate samples for each sampling site to minimize site-specific bias. Although we included such replicates, our results should be seen as a first indication of infauna biodiversity patterns related to regional environmental heterogeneity, rather than a comprehensive interpretation for the respective large-scale region (e.g., DP, BS). Future research, including additional sampling, may further improve our understanding of infauna community structure and variability in relation to habitat heterogeneity.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe differentiated two taxonomic and functional polychaete community types in the FT region: \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eD/\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eC and \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eE/\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eE (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eD and \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eC, defined as poor and mixed communities with low numbers of individuals, families, and functional groups (Tables SI2, SI4) were primarily composed of sessile deposit feeders. The structure and distribution of these community types only partially correspond to the macrofauna \u0026ldquo;Ice/ Ice Shelf-Water related community\u0026rdquo; described by Pineda-Metz et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) for the FT. Unlike Pineda-Metz et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e), we observed \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eD and \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eC exclusively at the inner slope of the central FT (~\u0026thinsp;700 m depth) and not near the (then) position of iceberg A23-A (st. 37, Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Such discrepancy could suggest local or temporal environmental drivers may play a stronger role in shaping different communities than can currently be covered by sampling in remote regions. The second community types we found in the FT region (\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eTax\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eE, \u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003eFunc\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003eE) showed a wider distribution, similar to the \u0026ldquo;Eastern Shelf community\u0026rdquo; of higher-taxon macrofauna identified by Vo\u0026szlig; (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1988\u003c/span\u003e) and geographically expanded by Pineda-Metz et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Similar macrofauna communities between the shelves east and west of the Filchner Trough and the continental slope in the north may be an indication of wider connectivity within the FT region (Pineda-Metz et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Future studies should test whether the polychaete communities along the northern continental slope resemble those of the eastern and western FT shelves.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eThe importance of integrated taxonomic and functional analyses\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDifferences regarding the benthic community structure between our and previous studies may partly result from the use of different sampling devices, an inherent challenge in comparing benthic biodiversity. For example, Gutt et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e) used an Agassiz trawl, a semi-quantitative device targeting larger epi- and infauna over large areas, Glover et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e) used a megacorer, Pineda-Metz et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) and Hilbig et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e) applied the multibox corer, and we used the MUC to sample smaller infaunal organisms in the sediment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhile our study provides valuable insights into polychaete community structure across different WS regions, family-level taxonomic resolution may bias the results, e.g., underestimating finer-scale diversity and functional differentiation. Identification on genus or species level could provide more detailed insights. However, we assume that the differences found at family level also hold at lower taxonomic levels, as most polychaete families are well-supported monophyletic groups (Fauchald and Rouse \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1997\u003c/span\u003e). Older than genera or species, families provide a broader understanding of evolutionary and biogeographic influences on the taxonomic structure beyond species diversity (Ricklefs \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1987\u003c/span\u003e). Unfortunately, complex classification efforts, especially in understudied regions such as the SO remain time-consuming, costly and often challenging for broad ecological surveys.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo capture the various facets of biodiversity comprehensively, taxonomic information alone is insufficient. Our approach allowed a first integrative view of infaunal polychaete diversity in an understudied, climate-sensitive region by addressing taxonomic and functional classification. We highlight that functional groups can reflect interesting aspects in regional taxonomic biodiversity patterns, such as resemblance in distant but environmentally similar regions and thus should be integrated into future benthic ecological studies to understand distributional dynamics, especially if taxonomic information is lacking. Functional identities linked with environmental conditions can provide valuable tools for conservation planning, particularly for regions threatened by climate change. However, functional identities should complement and not replace taxonomic approaches to fully capture biodiversity and ecosystem processes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contribution\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFW designed study, did formal analysis, investigation, visualization, writing original draft preparation, reviewing and editing. KJ was involved in supervision, writing original draft preparation, reviewing and editing. HP was involved in writing original draft preparation, reviewing and editing. AB was involved in data acquisition and validation, writing-reviewing original draft. BB was involved in investigation and data acquisition. GVK was involved in investigation, writing original draft preparation, reviewing and editing, project administration. HL designed study, did validation, writing original draft preparation, reviewing and editing, project administration, supervision.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in the framework of the priority program SPP 1158 \u0026quot;Antarctic Research with comparative investigations in Arctic ice areas\u0026quot; (Grants LI 2313/3-1, LI 2313/6-1 and VE 260/10-1). Support was given by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research (Grants AWI_PS81_03, AWI_PS96_02, AWI_PS118). Friederike Weith was supported by the Professorinnenprogramm III (University of Rostock).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinancial interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical approval\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo animal testing was performed during this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSampling and field studies\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll necessary permits for sampling and observational field studies have been obtained by the authors from the competent authorities and are mentioned in the acknowledgements, if applicable. The study is compliant with CBD and Nagoya protocols.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article, its supplementary information files, or have been deposited in the public database PANGAEA.org.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrasier MJ, Barnes D, Bax N, Brandt A, Christianson AB, Constable AJ, Downey R, Figuerola B, Griffiths H, Gutt J, Lockhart S, Morley SA, Post AL, Van de Putte A, Saeedi H, Stark JS, Sumner M, Waller CL (2021) Responses of Southern Ocean Seafloor Habitats and Communities to Global and Local Drivers of Change. Front. Mar. Sci. 8: 622721 doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.622721 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClarke KR, Gorley RN, Sommerfield PJ, Warwick RM (2014) Change in marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation. PRIMER-E: Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCummings VJ, Hewitt JE, Thrush SF, Marriott PM, Halliday NJ, Norkko A (2018) Linking Ross Sea Coastal Benthic Communities to Environmental Conditions: Documenting Baselines in a Spatially Variable and Changing World. Front. Mar. Sci. 5 doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00232\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDorschel B (2019) The Expedition PS118 of the Research Vessel POLARSTERN to the Weddell Sea in 2019. Ber. Polar- und Meeresforsch, Bremerhaven, AWI for Polar and Marine Research 735: 149 doi: 10.2312/BzPM_0735_2019\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEllingsen KE, Brandt A, Ebbe B, Linse K (2007) Diversity and species distribution of polychaetes, isopods and bivalves in the Atlantic sector of the deep Southern Ocean. Polar Biol. 30: 1265-1273 doi: 10.1007/s00300-007-0287-x\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFauchald K, Jumars PA (1979) The diet of worms: a study of polychaete feeding guilds. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Annu. Rev. 17: 193-284 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFauchald K, Rouse G (1997) Polychaete systematics: Past and present. Zool. Scr. 26: 71-138 doi: 10.1111/j.1463-6409.1997.tb00411.x\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGerdes D, Klages M, Arntz WE, Herman RL, Galron J, Hain S (1992) Quantitative investigations on macrobenthos communities of the southeastern Weddell Sea shelf based on multibox corer samples. Polar Biol. 12 doi: 10.1007/bf00238272\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGlover AG, Smith CR, Mincks SL, Sumida PYG, Thurber AR (2008) Macrofaunal abundance and composition on the West Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf: Evidence for a sediment \u0026lsquo;food bank\u0026rsquo; and similarities to deep-sea habitats. Deep-Sea Res. II: Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 55: 2491-2501 doi: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.06.008\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGriffiths HJ, Cummings VJ, Van de Putte A, Whittle RJ, Waller CL (2024) Antarctic benthic ecology. Nat. Rev. Earth Environ. 5: 645-664 doi: 10.1038/s43017-024-00583-5\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGutt, J (2007) Antarctic macro-zoobenthic communities: A review and an ecological classification. Antarct. Sci. 19: 165\u0026ndash;182 doi: 0.1017/S0954102007000247 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGutt J (2013) The expedition of the research vessel \u0026quot;Polarstern\u0026quot; to the Antarctic in 2013 (ANT-XXIX/3). Ber. Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, AWI for Polar and Marine Research 665: 151 p. doi: 10.2312/BzPM_0665_2013\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGutt J, Alvaro MC, Barco A, B\u0026ouml;hmer A, Bracher A, David B, De Ridder C, Dorschel B, El\u0026eacute;aume M, Janussen D, Kersken D, L\u0026oacute;pez-Gonz\u0026aacute;lez PJ, Mart\u0026iacute;nez-Barald\u0026eacute;s I, Schr\u0026ouml;der M, Segelken-Voigt A, Teixid\u0026oacute; N (2016) Macroepibenthic communities at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, an ecological survey at different spatial scales. Polar Biol. 39: 829-849 doi: 10.1007/s00300-015-1797-6\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHartman O (1964) Polychaeta Errantia of Antarctica. American Geophysical Union of the National Academy of Science - National Research Council., Washington, D. C., United States of America\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHartman O (1976) Polychaeta from the Weddell Sea Quadrant, Antarctica. Antarctic Research Series, Biology of the Antarctic Seas VI 26: 125-223 doi: 10.1002/9781118664599\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHartman O (1996) Polychaeta Myzostomidae and Sedentaria of Antarctica. American Geophysical Union of the National Academy of Science - National Research Council, Washington, D. C., United States of America\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHartmann-Schr\u0026ouml;der G (1996) Annelida, Borstenw\u0026uuml;rmer, Polychaeta, Die Tierwelt Deutschlands und der angrenzenden Meeresteile. Gustav-Fischer, Jena, Germany\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHayward PJ, Ryland JS (2017) Handbook of the marine fauna of North-West Europe. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHewitt JE, Thrush SF, Dayton PD (2008) Habitat variation, species diversity and ecological functioning in a marine system. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 366: 116-122 doi: 10.1016/j.jembe.2008.07.016\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHilbig B, Gerdes D, Montiel A (2006) Distribution patterns and biodiversity in polychaete communities of the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula area (Southern Ocean). J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K. 86: 711-725 doi: 10.1017/S0025315406013610\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e[dataset] Janout, MA, Damerell G, Diener T, H\u0026ouml;lemann JA, R\u0026ouml;hler A, Wang Y, Wiegand K, Wiskandt J, Tippenhauer S (2020) Physical oceanography measured on water bottle samples during Polarstern cruise PS118, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, PANGAEA. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.913182 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJansen J, Hill NA, Dunstan PK, Cougnon EA, Galton-Fenzi BK, Johnson CR (2018a) Mapping Antarctic Suspension Feeder Abundances and Seafloor Food-Availability, and Modeling Their Change After a Major Glacier Calving. Front. Ecol. Evol. 6 doi: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00094\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJansen J, Hill NA, Dunstan PK, El\u0026eacute;aume MP, Johnson CR (2018b) Taxonomic Resolution, Functional Traits, and the Influence of Species Groupings on Mapping Antarctic Seafloor Biodiversity. Front. Ecol. Evol. 6 doi: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00081\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJumars PA, Dorgan KM, Lindsay SM (2015) Diet of Worms Emended: An Update of Polychaete Feeding Guilds. Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci. 7: 497-520 doi: 10.1146/annurev-marine-010814-020007\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKaiser S, Barnes DKA, Brandt A (2007) Slope and deep-sea abundance across scales: Southern Ocean isopods show how complex the deep sea can be. Deep-Sea Res. II: Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 54: 1776-1789 doi: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.07.006\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLink H, Veit-K\u0026ouml;hler G, Seifert D, Bodur Y (2016) Tracing the effects of changing ice cover on benthic ecosystem functioning \u0026ndash; from Meio to Macro. In: Schr\u0026ouml;der M (ed) The Expedition PS96 of the Research Vessel POLARSTERN to the southern Weddell Sea in 2015/2016. Ber. Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, AWI for Polar and Marine Research, pp 105-112\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e[data set]. Matsuoka K, Skoglund A, Roth G (2018) Quantarctica. Norwegian Polar Institute.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePabis K, Kędra M, Gromisz S (2014) Distinct or similar? Soft bottom polychaete diversity in Arctic and Antarctic glacial fjords. Hydrobiologia 742: 279-294 doi: 10.1007/s10750-014-1991-5\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePettibone MH (1982) Polychaeta. In: Parker SP (ed) Synopsis and Classification of living organisms. McGraw-Hill, New York, United States of America, pp 3-50\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePiepenburg D, Schmid MK, Gerdes D (2002) The benthos off King George Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica): further evidence for a lack of a latitudinal biomass cline in the Southern Ocean. Polar Biol. 25: 146-158 doi: 10.1007/s003000100322\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePineda-Metz SEA, Isla E, Gerdes D (2019) Benthic communities of the Filchner Region (Weddell Sea, Antarctica). MEPS 628: 37-54 doi: 10.3354/meps13093\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePolytraitsTeam (2025) Polytraits: A database on biological traits of polychaetes. LifewatchGreece, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePost AL, Beaman RJ, O\u0026rsquo;Brien PE, El\u0026eacute;aume M, Riddle MJ (2011) Community structure and benthic habitats across the George V Shelf, East Antarctica: Trends through space and time. Deep-Sea Res. II: Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 58: 105-118 doi: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.05.020\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQGIS.org (2025) QGIS Geographic Information System. QGIS Association\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRicklefs RE (1987) Community diversity: relatives roles of local and regional processes. Science 235: 167-171 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e[data set] S\u0026auml;ring F, Bruhn M, We\u0026szlig;els A-K, Bohn M, Veit-K\u0026ouml;hler G (2021a) Meiofauna abundance from multicorer and box corer samples for seven stations from the Weddell Sea (POLARSTERN cruise PS 96, ANT-XXXI/2, December 2015\u0026ndash;February 2016) PANGAEA. https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.932636\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e[data set] S\u0026auml;ring F, Seifert D, Baumann M, Link H (2021b) Macrofauna abundance from multicorer and box corer samples for ten stations around the Antarctic Peninsula (POLARSTERN cruise PS 81, ANT-XXIX/3, January\u0026ndash;March 2013). PANGAEA. https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.932693\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eS\u0026auml;ring F, Veit-K\u0026ouml;hler G, Seifert D, Liskow I, Link H (2022) Sea-ice-related environmental drivers affect meiofauna and macrofauna communities differently at large scales (Southern Ocean, Antarctic). MEPS 700: 13-37 doi: 10.3354/meps14188\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSchr\u0026ouml;der M (2016) The Expedition PS96 of the Research Vessel POLARSTERN to the southern Weddell Sea in 2015/2016. Ber. Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, AWI for Polar and Marine Research 700: 142 doi doi: 10.2312/BzPM_0700_2016\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e[dataset] Schr\u0026ouml;der M, Wisotzki A, van Caspel M (2013) Physical oceanography measured on water bottle samples during POLARSTERN cruise ANT-XXIX/3. Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, PANGAEA. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.811818 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e[dataset] Schr\u0026ouml;der M, Ryan S, Wisotzki A (2016) Physical oceanography measured on water bottle samples during POLARSTERN cruise PS96 (ANT-XXXI/2 FROSN). Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, PANGAEA. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.859035 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSch\u0026uuml;ller M, Ebbe B (2014) 5.13. Polychaetes. In: De Broyer C, Koubbi P, Griffiths H, Raymond B, d\u0026rsquo;Udekem d\u0026rsquo;Acoz C, Van de Putte A, Danis B, Grant S, Gutt J, Held C, Hosie G, Huettmann F, Post A, Ropert-Coudert Y (eds) Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, Cambridge, United Kingdom, pp 134-137\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSch\u0026uuml;ller M, Ebbe B, W\u0026auml;gele JW (2009) Community structure and diversity of polychaetes (Annelida) in the deep Weddell Sea (Southern Ocean) and adjacent basins. Mar. Biodiver. 39: 95-108 doi: 10.1007/s12526-009-0009-4\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSunday JM, Pecl GT, Frusher S, Hobday AJ, Hill N, Holbrook NJ, Edgar GJ, Stuart-Smith R, Barrett N, Wernberg T, Watson RA, Smale DA, Fulton EA, Slawinski D, Feng M, Radford BT, Thompson PA, Bates AE (2015) Species traits and climate velocity explain geographic range shifts in an ocean-warming hotspot. Ecol. Lett. 18: 944-953 doi: 10.1111/ele.12474\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVan der Heijden MGA, Klironomos JN, Ursic M, Moutoglis P, Streitwolf-Engel R, Boller T, Wiemken A, Sanders IR (1999) \u0026bdquo;Sampling Effect\u0026ldquo;, a problem in biodiversity manipulation? A reply to David A. Wardle. Oikos. 408-410. doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/3546758\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVeit-K\u0026ouml;hler G, Durst S, Schuckenbrock J, Hauquier F, Dur\u0026aacute;n Suja L, Dorschel B, Vanreusel A, Mart\u0026iacute;nez Arbizu P (2018) Oceanographic and topographic conditions structure benthic meiofauna communities in the Weddell Sea, Bransfield Strait and Drake Passage (Antarctic). Prog. Oceanogr. 162: 240-256 doi: 10.1016/j.pocean.2018.03.005\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVo\u0026szlig; J (1988) Zoogeographie und Gemeinschaftsanalyse des Makrozoobenthos des Weddellmeeres (Antarktis). Ber. Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, AWI for Polar and Marine Research 45: 1-145 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e[data set] Weith F, Bick A, Behrend B, Seifert D, Baumann M, Link H (2024) Polychaete families in sediment samples from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea: data from multicorer and box corer samples from stations of POLARSTERN cruises PS81, PS96, and PS118, PANGAEA. doi: 10.1594/PANGAEA.960304\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Box 1","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBox 1\u003c/strong\u003e Category for functional traits and groups. Functional traits for polychaetes according to Fauchald and Jumars (1979), Jumars et al. (2015) and PolytraitsTeam (2023). Functional groups derived from specific combinations of functional traits listed in descending order of occurrence\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"402\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBehavioral attribute\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunctional trait\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCategory (Abbreviation)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding type\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSurface deposit feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eS\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSubsurface deposit feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSb\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePredator\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eP\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOmnivore\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eO\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSuspension feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eF\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMotility\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMotile\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eM\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ediscretely motile\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDM\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eno motility\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMovement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCrawling\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBurrowing\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 46.2687%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSessile\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 29.8507%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSe\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcronym\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunctional group\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSbMB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMotile burrowing subsurface deposit feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSMB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMotile burrowing surface deposit feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePMC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMotile crawling predator\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSbDB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDiscretely motile burrowing subsurface deposit feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOMC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMotile crawling omnivore\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePMB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMotile burrowing predator\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSDB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDiscretely motile burrowing surface deposit feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSDSe\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDiscretely motile sessile surface deposit feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eODC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDiscretely motile crawling omnivore\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePDB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDiscretely motile burrowing predator\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFNSe\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNo motile sessile suspension feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSbDC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDiscretely motile crawling subsurface deposit feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSbMC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMotile crawling subsurface deposit feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.8806%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSMC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.1194%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMotile crawling surface deposit feeder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e"},{"header":"Table 1","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 1\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eStation list and sampling during RV \u003cem\u003ePolarstern\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eexpeditions PS81 (January 22\u0026ndash;March 18, 2013), PS96 (December 06, 2015\u0026ndash;February 14, 2016) and PS118 (February 9\u0026ndash;April 10, 2019). Multicorers (MUC) and the giant box corer (GKG) were deployed for polychaete community sampling. Only successful MUC and GKG deployments, which were used for faunal analyses, are listed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"595\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExpedition \u0026amp; Region\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSt.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eno. of fauna cores\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLatitude\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLongitude\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDepth [m]\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGear\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"10\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 38px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePS81 Antarctic Peninsula (AP)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"5\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 47px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDrake Passage (DP)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e235-2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2013-03-07\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e62\u0026apos;16.35\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e61\u0026apos;10.23\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e355\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e241-2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2013-03-09\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e62\u0026apos;06.59\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60\u0026apos;36.47\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e400\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGKG\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e241-3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2013-03-09\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e62\u0026apos;06.60\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60\u0026apos;36.51\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e403\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGKG\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e241-4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2013-03-09\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e62\u0026apos;06.59\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60\u0026apos;36.50\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e403\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGKG\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e241-5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2013-03-09\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e62\u0026apos;06.60\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60\u0026apos;36.50\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e403\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGKG\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBransfield Strait (BS)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e217-5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2013-03-02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e62\u0026apos;53.25\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e58\u0026apos;14.13\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e532\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e225-2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2013-02-04\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e62\u0026apos;56.08\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e58\u0026apos;40.76\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e543\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"8\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNorthwestern Weddell Sea\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e(NW-WS)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e120-4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2013-01-28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63\u0026apos;04.78\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e54\u0026apos;31.45\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e494\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e163-3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2013-02-11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63\u0026apos;50.97\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56\u0026apos;25.24\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e517\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e190-6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2013-02-21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63\u0026apos;50.58\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e55\u0026apos;31.66\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e389\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"5\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePS118\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6-2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2019-03-05\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e64\u0026apos;58.72\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e57\u0026apos;46.38\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e423\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6-3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2019-03-05\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e64\u0026apos;58.61\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e57\u0026apos;46.36\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e425\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8-5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2019-03-11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63\u0026apos;58.26\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e55\u0026apos;54.32\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e413\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8-7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2019-03-11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63\u0026apos;57.88\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e55\u0026apos;54.47\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e415\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38-3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2019-03-22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63\u0026apos;04.48\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e54\u0026apos;20.22\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e427\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"12\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePS96 Southeastern WS\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"12\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFilchner Trough (FT) region\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17-3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-04\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e75\u0026apos;00.85\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32\u0026apos;52.51\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e608\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGKG\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26-7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-08\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e75\u0026apos;16.19\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37\u0026apos;54.96\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e416\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26-8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-08\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e75\u0026apos;16.10\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37\u0026apos;54.85\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e415\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26-10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-08\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e75\u0026apos;15.80\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37\u0026apos;54.87\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e414\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26-11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-08\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e75\u0026apos;15.65\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37\u0026apos;54.87\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e414\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e48-7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-19\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e74\u0026apos;45.52\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35\u0026apos;20.91\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e482\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e48-8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-19\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e74\u0026apos;45.52\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35\u0026apos;20.91\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e482\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37-8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e75\u0026apos;43.30\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42\u0026apos;27.71\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e391\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37-9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-17\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e75\u0026apos;43.29\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42\u0026apos;27.66\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e391\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e61-5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e76\u0026apos;05.93\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30\u0026apos;18.23\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e468\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e61-6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2016-01-22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e76\u0026apos;05.89\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30\u0026apos;18.38\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e467\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e72-9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 85px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.01.2016\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e75\u0026apos;50.85\u0026apos;S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 0px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32\u0026apos;17.44\u0026apos;W\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e755\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMUC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"marine-biodiversity","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"marb","sideBox":"Learn more about [Marine Biodiversity](http://link.springer.com/journal/12526)","snPcode":"12526","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/marb/default2.aspx","title":"Marine Biodiversity","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"benthos, biodiversity, abundance, community composition, functional diversity, traits, Southern Ocean","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6681155/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6681155/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003ePolychaetes are a dominant and functionally diverse infaunal group of marine soft-bottom ecosystems. Yet their biodiversity and community composition remain poorly understood in the Weddell Sea (WS). We investigated the composition of polychaete communities (taxonomic and functional identity) in two key regions of the WS (Antarctic Peninsula and Filchner Trough region). Sediment cores collected during three RV \u003cem\u003ePolarstern\u003c/em\u003e expeditions (PS81, 96, 118), revealed 1,605 polychaete individuals from 34 families. We assigned them into 14 functional groups, based on their feeding, motility and movement type. Polychaete abundances were highest in the northwestern WS and lowest at the deeper Filchner Trough sites, while the number of taxa was similar in all regions. Cluster analyses distinguished six taxonomic and five functional community types, indicating heterogeneous community structures. Paraonidae and Cirratulidae were the dominant families. Motile borrowing subsurface deposit feeders prevailed functionally across sites. Regional differences were e.g., that Hesionidae, Opheliidae and Maldanidae were more abundant around the Antarctic Peninsula, Syllidae, Glyceridae and Lumbrineridae in the Filchner Trough region. Our results highlight the spatial variation of polychaete communities and emphasize the need to integrate taxonomic and functional perspectives to comprehensively assess the different facets of biodiversity and to support conservation efforts for vulnerable WS regions.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Infaunal polychaete communities from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Filchner Trough region (Weddell Sea)","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-06 07:06:54","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6681155/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Major Revisions Needed","date":"2025-08-13T18:57:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2025-07-05T23:08:37+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-03T14:59:22+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"Marine Biodiversity","date":"2025-05-21T11:19:17+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-05-20T14:31:44+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Marine Biodiversity","date":"2025-05-16T09:26:05+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"marine-biodiversity","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"marb","sideBox":"Learn more about [Marine Biodiversity](http://link.springer.com/journal/12526)","snPcode":"12526","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/marb/default2.aspx","title":"Marine Biodiversity","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"d032c2ec-a80a-466e-b89f-8e19be692dd0","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 6th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-12-02T17:20:37+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-06 07:06:54","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6681155","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6681155","identity":"rs-6681155","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}